The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1887-12-22
CHINESE FARMERS.
A Glance at the Agriculturists
of the Flowery Kingdom,
The Country's Graveyards a
Bar to Its Progress.

The Country's Graveyards a
Bar to Its Progress.
There arc reasons to believe that the
trade OF this country with China will
soon grow to majestic dimensions. OF
the seven million, five hundred thousand
dollars of exports to China in the last
fiscal year, nearly five million dollars
worth was Of distinctively agricultural
products, and of their manufacture. OF
the remainder, the largest share was
mineral oil. Tho Commission in the
United States this year is charged es-
pccially with tho promotion of banks,
telegraph and telephone lines, behind
which looms up the extension of canals,
the introduction of railroads, of agri-
cultural machinery, and of such of our
products as China needs, and she has
need of many. Her home products,
aside from tea are wheat, mil
let, garden vegetables, rice,
poor apples, peaches, grapes,
etc. The food of China i, mostly vege-
tables and fish--thc extensive sea coast,
rivers and canals supplying the latter.
Beef is almost unknown, except in the
foreign settlements, and berries are
rare; mutton is plentiful; pork, poultry
and eggs are abundant. Domestic ami
mails, except dogs, are not common.
Horses are scarce, mules are numerous,
cattle in small numbers, but focks and
herds are unknown. Two or three ami
mails comprise an average barn garrison.
The camel is q familiar beast of burden.
The Chinese farmers live in cities, towns
and villages, and cultivate the adjacent
country, where there is no subdivision
by fences, hedge rows or walls. There
IS an excess of fiat country, which is
subject to frightful foundations from
the swollen rivers. Famines are OF rare,
and fcwyears ago1o, 900, 900 people died
from starvation in two provinces alone,
while abundance prevailed in the rest OF
the empire. Farming tools arc of tho
rudest. No vehicles have springs.
They are made on models found in a
text book recognized in the schools for
some thousands of years. The people
dress in cotton, and live aud work after
fashions as old as their civilization. The
national habit is opposed to change, and
so the nation of three hundred million
souls goes on in "the good old way"
Tho Uuited States broke the spell Of
centuries in Japan. 1t may yet do tho
same for China. We go for trads and
progress, other nations for trad, and
conquest and colonies, and the Chinese
leaders are beginning to understand
this.
1t has been said that the pious care of
the Chinese for the graves Of their an
ccstors prohibits the construction ol
railroads, telegraph lines, etc. Anccs.
trail worship is indeed an accepted form
of religion, and of immortal antiquity.
But it is kept alive only by the strong
hand Of the imperial government. The
land is not one graveyard. The grave,
are all near the cities and surround
them in rows of tumuli, or detached
mounds, looking like hay cocks. II
properly approached, Chinaman will,
if duly compensated, move his family
burial place and set it up elsewhere.
Near Ticntsin is mile race track
within its bounds arc several thousand
graves, without, as many;and many have
been removed to make room for tho
track and buildings. On these mound:
the Chinese stand to get good view Of
the race and other sports. Here is
proof that this "oult" for the departed
is not fxct and immovable belief
There arc twenty eight miles of railroad,
leading from a coal mine in the northern
part OF the Empire. The mines and the
road are worked, in spite of national
prejudice and the ncestralsuperstition.
There is little. WOO l in China, and the
fuel most in use is the rakings of tn.
dried grass, leaves, reeds, etc., which
are kept for winter use. In both
town and country--in the towns
rather, for there is no country
lifc-thc struggle for existence is severe
and constant. A modcrnizcd agricul.
ture, and the introduction of railroad
and wagon service, would rejuvenate
the decaying "Flowcry Land" which
is bald misnomcr for land destitute
of flowers and shrubs, treeless, and with
dull herbage that contrasts strongly
with the culture that has made the
American continent to "blossom like
the rosc," and to be rich in various
products that its enterprise bears to all
parts of the civilized world. Il American
priculturist